Clamp for eyeglasses.



Fig. 3

G.A.SQUIER. GLA MP FOR EYEGLASSES.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.4,191L

I Patented Oct. 1, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Fig. 2

ATTEST A. 'SQUIER. CLAMP FOR EYEGLASSES.

APPLIOATIPN-IILED D304, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Oct. 1, 1912.

UNITED" STATES PATENT onnron enonen A. sournn; or CLEVELAND, orrro.

CLAMP non EYEGLASSES-I.

Specification of Letters Patent. I

Patented Ochl, 1912.

Applicationfiled December 4, 1911. Serial No..683,671.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. SQUIER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Clamps for Eyeglasses,of which the following is'a specie fication.

My invention relates to improvements in clamping devices for rimlessspectacles and eye glasses, and has for its object to produce a clampthat is readily adjusted to any thick:

ness of glass used in the finished lensof spectacles or eye glasses. I

A further obj ect. of my invention is to avoid the necessity of drillinga hole through the glass, as has always been necessary heretofore,though I do not limit myself to this exceptional construction in thepractice of my invention as it will be readily seenflthat by V changingthe position ofthe securing screw and openings therefor, this device,like those heretofore, can be used on lenses havingv the usualperforations.

One of the distinct and material advantages this style of clamp has overthe old style is" thatit can be adjusted to any- .thickness of glasswithout any kinking'or undue bending of the metal, and the double barsthat engage the edge of the lens prevent any side twisting of thesurface clamps, thus also adding rigidity to the fitting and preventingany play of the lens edgewise. All of the above advantages areconspicuous in this clamp and there are others which will appear in thefurther description. For example, when a non-perforated lens is used asnow presented it will be readily seen that the position of thesecuringscrew is changed to a section of. the-clamp adjacent to the edge of thelens and not-through it as before, and preferably a little outside ,ofthe line of connection made by the, intersection of the edge bars withthe surface flanges.

The object of this construction is to allow room for the lens to enterup into the clamp without striking the screw and also to place it insuch a position that the bars that engage the edge of the lens will havea bearing on it as it is screwed down, acting as a means of resistingany tendency of the screw t loosen.

In the practice of making and assembling rimless spectacles and eyeglasses by the laity, a clamp is used that necessitates the drilling ofhole's through the glass. These clamps are made of different degrees ofspace "between the two flanges that engage the surfaces of the lens, andhave through perforations, one flange being threaded to engage thesecuring screw, and in addition have single engaging arms extending atright angles on the edge of the glass. A very serious objection to thisconstruction is, that it necessitates the keeping in stock of varioussizes of clamps to fit the various thicknesses of lenses, and with thedifferent slzed clamps it is very difiicult to properly fit them to thelenses and even after careful fitting the liability of breakage isgreat. Another serious objection in clamps of this construction is, thatafter being worn the tendency is for the securing screws to loosen, dueto the side play in the clamps engaging the edge of the lens. This alsogives rise to another objection, that of the surface ears being easilytwisted from their original position in fitting, thereby throwingglasses out of their original adjustment.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a lens andonetof my new clamps thereon, and Fig.2 isasectional elevation of theclamp as it appears on the lens. Fig. 3 is a plan view of clamp and lenslooking down on Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a sectional plan on line 4 -4,Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an edge view of lens and clamp on line 5-5, Fig. 1.Figs. 6 and 7 show the clamp spread to fit a thicker lens, Fig. 6corresponding otherwise to the sectional view in Fig. 4, and Fig. 7corresponding to edge view Fig. 5. Figs. 8 and 9 show a plan and an edgeview respectively of the clamp blank, or before it is bent intoclampingshape. Figs. lOand '11 relate to a modification of the inventionshowing the clam-p as adapted to spectacles,

andshow elevation and plan views respectively of a spectacle mounting onthe improved clamp. Fig. 12 is a plan of a modification of the clampwith an integral binding, portion in lieu of the screw, and Fig. 13 isan' edge elevation of Fig. 12.

Having reference first to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5,inclusivefl: represents the clamp as an article or unit, made in asingle piece and of skeleton pattern, being open practically its fulllength between its ends and side edges and'hence capable of yieldinglaterally in its body according to the thickness ofthe lens and fastenedupon the lens with a clamping effect by the screw s. The said screwenters through holes in" clamp which manifests itself in bringing thelens,

ears in the middle of the clamp outside of has relatively short flatoutward projections the edge of the lens a, and the clamping sidesproper thereof indicated by 2 are adapted to embrace opposite sides ofthe lens and have lugs 3 on their inside adapted toengage in circularcavities in the lens. The said cavities have a depth equal to aboutone-third the thickness of the glass and there is enough spring in thesides 2 of the clamp to enablethem to be pressed into engaging positionwith said lugs 3 in the cavities. When this engagement has been made theends of the clamp body, or the loops 4 at said ends, are supposed torest firmly against the lens, whereby a really close fit of the clamp issecured without other fastenings. It will be observedthat the said loopsor end portions are relatively long so that they afiord a firm brace forthe lens in both directions edgewise. The box Z) isadapted to receivethe usual bridge-piece for the nose and constitutes a part of themounting. Said box is provided with a shank 5 which is soldered orotherwise permanently secured to one side of the clamp but free from theother side, and said shank or stud is slightly less in depth than thethickness of the lens so as not to prevent effective clamping of thesides 2 on the lens when the screw is tightened. An original and novelfeature herein lies in the construction of the lens with cavities forthe lugs of the clamp instead of being bored through as formerly andengaging the clamping screw therein through the lens. So far as I knowand believe'lt has been practically umversal experience that this is thecrucial point in glasses of this kind because the lens is so greatlyweakened by the bore that breakage becomes comparatively easy. Thenagain the tightening of the screw about the hole is liable to inducesplitting of the glass. The present lens with its two cavities affordsthe remedy because it is not bored through and there is no binding screwpenetrating the glass. Instead, I depend practically upon a springclamping eflect instead of a centralized congested locking togetherwhich tolerates no yield and is in itself a constant menace to Thepresent screw comes wholly outside "of the lens where its only efiectcan be to bind the fiat sides 2 of the clamp firmly against the surfacesofthe lens but not to their injury. However, there"is av furtherpractical efiect obtained by this position of the screw in thepresentform of the lugs 3 and the extremities of loops 4 intointerlocking relations on the lens. In other words the, e'fi'ect oftightening the screw extends beyond the sides 2 to the said extremitiesand lugs and distributes itself to all the tpoints of contact betweenthe clamp and e lens. Specifically, the clamp 7 and 8 outside of thescrew .9 between which the shank of box Z) is engaged, and said box issoldered or otherwise pern'lanently unified with the projection 7 butfree as to projection 8, thus leaving the parts adaptable also to lensesof different thicknesses. Thus, in Figs. 6 and T a much heavier lens a."is shown than in the preceding views but the same or like box 6. Thisspaces the shank 5 so far apart from the projection 8 that it is bentinward instead of remaining in its original parallel relation to theopposite side. The same clamp, however, serves for both thicknesses oflens.

In Figs. 10 and 11 the same invention is shown in connection with abridge member d for spectacles." The said member is soldered orsimilarly aflixed to the projection 8 of the clamp c, and since it comesto this projection with its end 10 bent at substantially right anglesand transverse to the clamp the opposite projection 7 bent laterally inbraced relation with the said end 10.

In Figs. 12 and 13 a further modifi ation of the invention is shownwherein the clamp 0 is the same in allparticulars as in the foregoingviews except" that there "is no separate clamping screw .9 but the. lugor projection S is formed with a nrolongation which is bent at rightangles and extends across to the other side of the clamp and is threadedat its extremity and provided with a nut so as to form a clamping screwa in effect and adapted to substitute. the screw 8. The oppositeprojection or car T" is provided witlran open slot. into which the endof said part a is pressed and the said nut is tightened thereon. The box7) may be soldered directly to the body of the screw 8 or secured insome equivalent way, and

the bridge piece (Z for spectacles may be secured thereto in likemanner.

It will be understoodthat the clamp c as a unit or article is distinctlya separate article of manufacture and sale and kept in stock for'usewith either kind of mounting as described. I may of course add eithermounting and some prefer to have this done at the factory, but notnecessarily. The adaptability of'the clamp tip various thicknesses oflenses also is important and this is made possible-by having an openworkor skeleton clamp body in which the sides can be more or less contractedas in Fig. 5, or more or less widened as suggested in Fig. 7 By placingrounded pliers in the ends of the loops, the sides of the body may bespread a uniform distance apart their full length, and by use of fiatpliers to the outside end portions the body may be compressed to Oneadvantage of my'invention' over present practices and constructions isthat the clamp may be spread or contracted to fit lenses of differentthicknesses without changing the distance from the center of the lugs 3to the edge-bearing extremities of the loops 4, thereby maintaining theworking relations between the lugs and the cavities in the lens. Thesame advantage accrues in a skeleton clamp 0 having screw openings inthe clamping sides '2 in lieu of lugs, and where the clamping screw 8passes through the lens instead of outside of the edge thereof as shown.In Fig. 8, the circle-designated by 3 may either be an opening or a lug.

What I claim is:

1. A lens clamp having edge-bearing portions open lengthwisebetween itssides and: ends and provided at its middle with parallel projectingportions adapted to be clamped upon the surfaces of the lens, and

a clamping member for said portions.

2. A lens clamp comprising a skeleton body having brace portions open'practi;-

cally the full length thereof, adapting said clamp to yield laterallyfor different thicknesses of lenses, and means to secure said body uponthe lens with a clamping effect.

3. A clamp adapted to fit lenses of different thicknesses, comprising askeleton body having separate clamping sides to engage the surfaces ofthe lens and longitudinallydivided braces to engage the edge of thelens, and means to secure said clamp upon the lens.

4. An adjustable clamp for lenses of different thicknesses comprising abody of skeleton ,pattern having clamping sides 2 and bracing loops 4,and a clamping member to contract said body.

5. A lens clamp having transverse holes and provided with dividedbraceshaving transverse portions to engage the edge of the lens, whereby' theclamp may be bent according to the thickness of the lens withoutaltering the position of the said openings relatively to the edge'of thelens, in combination with a clamping screw.

6. A clamp for lenses. having a skeleton body curved lengthwise andprovided with loop shaped ends and fiat side portions. inside at itsmiddle having lugs to engage the glass and transversely perforated earson its outside adapted to receive a clamping screw.

-7. A lens clamp having surface-clamping sides and ed e-clampingextensions separated lengthwise to permit transverse contraction orexpansion for lenses of different thicknesses, a clamping device, andmeans to support said clamp attached to a part thereof.

8. Alens clamp having separate brace extensions connected at their endsto engage the edge of the lens and having parallel clamping sides arid aclamping member therebetween, and a' stud securedto one side portion ofsaid clamp.

9. A lens clamp comprising an elongated skeleton body of pliant metalproviding separated. clamping sides and ends for both surfaces and theedge of the lens, said body being uniformly I transversely between itsends to fit lenses of different thicknesses, in combination with aclamping device for said clamp.

10. A clamp for eye glasses having a body 0 en lengthwise between itsends and provlded with outward projections at its middle, a clampingmember, and a mounting permanently secured to one of said projectionsand separate'from the other. Y I

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, GEORGE A. sotnnn. Witnesses: 3

E. M. FISHER, 0. Museum.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for live cents each," hyaddressing the Commissioner of Patents.

- Washington, D. 0.

compressible and expansible

